Case Study
How MODEC saved 50,000 man hours on FPSO Bacalhau
Wietske Helle
MscEng, Product Specialist
About
MODEC is a world leader in floating production systems, providing engineering, procurement, construction and installation services for the offshore oil and gas industry.
Industry
Oil & Gas (FPSO)
Company size
5,000+
Headquarters
Tokyo, Japan
Founded
1968
Funding raised
Public Company
Key features
The Challenge
What they faced
MODEC was managing the final phases of the massive FPSO Bacalhau project with an outdated paper-based system. Over 70,000 individual check sheets needed to be prepared in the office and completed onsite—each form being several pages and regularly needing corrections and redoing. The manual process was slow, costly, and difficult to manage.
The Solution
How Deskely helped
Deskely assigned a dedicated project manager to create a customized solution based on our platform. The system was configured to match MODEC's existing workflow while adding automation features like digital punch lists, sequential inspection for piping Test-Packs, and compulsory photo documentation. Field operators could complete check sheets on tablets with offline capability, syncing data automatically when Wi-Fi became available.
The Results
Measurable impact
50,000 man hours saved across the project (45 minutes per check sheet × 70,000 sheets)
Scaled from 20 users in Singapore to 350 users across 4 yards in China and Brazil
99% of check sheets completed at sail-away, up from 60% on previous projects
95% of contractors now request Deskely for their next project, up from 20% initial adoption
Full Story
MODEC's digital transformation journey
The FPSO Bacalhau is one of the largest and most modern floating production vessels in Brazil—370 meters long and 64 meters wide, with a production capacity of 220,000 barrels of oil per day. Located in the Santos Basin at ultra-deep water depths exceeding 2,000 meters, the project demanded precision and efficiency at every stage of construction and commissioning.
"The client did not want to change their well-thought-out workflow but saw great opportunity in letting the system dictate roles, authorities, and take benefit of all the automation that our system provides," explains Wietske Helle. "By understanding our client's process, we adjust the platform to our client's work method and ensure that all field operators are in compliance."
The implementation started with construction of a module in Singapore with just 20 users. After this successful experience, MODEC decided to adopt the solution globally. The transformation in contractor adoption was equally remarkable—initial resistance from 80% of contractors turned into 95% actively requesting the platform for future projects.
Real-time dashboards gave project managers constant access to field progress. By analyzing the data, MODEC discovered that previous module load-outs occurred when only 60% of check sheets were completed—meaning costly offshore work was needed to finish inspections. With Deskely, the following project achieved 99% completion at sail-away, dramatically reducing offshore commissioning costs.
The success of FPSO Bacalhau has established a new standard for MODEC's global operations. The project demonstrates how digital transformation in completion management can deliver millions of dollars in savings while improving compliance and quality across complex international construction projects.